Stronger Than Diabetes

"I'm living proof that you can take control of your life," says Buckler. "You can be stronger than diabetes."

Judy Buckler knows why diabetes is called a silent killer.

"Both my father and his mother died from organ failure resulting from the disease," she says.

Because of her family history, Buckler knew to be on the lookout for the telltale signs of the disease.When she began experiencing fatigue, excessive thirst and weakness among other physical symptoms, she wasted no time getting to the doctor.

"When I found out I had diabetes, I was upset because my health had been pretty good up to that point," says Buckler. "I not only felt terrible physically, I also kept remembering what my poor father had gone through - and I didn't want that to happen to me."

According to Judy Goffi, MS, RD, LDN, CDE, Coordinator of Nutrition and Diabetes Services at the FMH Wellness Center, a diagnosis of diabetes is often stressful.

"There's a huge amount of information out there about how to manage diabetes, and best practices are constantly changing," says Goffi. "For the newly-diagnosed person - or even the long term diabetic struggling to keep up with all the new developments-- this can be overwhelming. That's why we're here."

Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. The disease is the nation's sixth leading cause of death and the leading cause of blindness, limb amputations and kidney failure.

Buckler says the Diabetes Management programs at the FMH Wellness Center taught her that she had the power to make meaningful changes in her life, and that it was possible to manage her disease with knowledge and support.

"Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to a lot more issues if left unchecked," says Goffi. "Creating a diabetes management plan can help people stay focused, and on track with their treatment goals.We may not have a cure, but it can be controlled."

"I'm living proof that you can take control of your life," says Buckler. "You can be stronger than diabetes."